Unbaptized babies...

[OrthoCanuck]

I was wondering what the Lutheran position is on the fate of children who die before they are baptized. I am familiar with various positions in other denoms, but I cannot find a definitive answer online or in the BoC about the Lutheran position.

[SPALATIN]

I was wondering what the Lutheran position is on the fate of children who die before they are baptized. I am familiar with various positions in other denoms, but I cannot find a definitive answer online or in the BoC about the Lutheran position.

If in the event that a child should die prior to baptism we would trust them to the efficacy of God's grace. For it is out of our hands. We have to recognize that God is merciful and we would pray that in his efficacious grace he would take the child to heaven with him.

I look to what King David said to the servants after he had finished his fast and cleaned up and ate. He told them that the child could no longer come to him, but that he would one day go to the child. David trusted that God would take his child to be with him. Granted that is an Old Testament lesson, but I think that it is a poignant one to this question.

[Jim47]

Good reply Scott. This very question has caused many people to mistrust or to judge God as being an unmerciful tyrant. The fact is just as Scott explained it, we are taught to trust in God's love and mercy and to have faith in Him alone.

I think an excellant example of God's love and faithfulness are written in the story of Job. He also teaches us there to trust in Him even when things don't seem right.

[KagomeShuko]

If in the event that a child should die prior to baptism we would trust them to the efficacy of God's grace. For it is out of our hands. We have to recognize that God is merciful and we would pray that in his efficacious grace he would take the child to heaven with him.

I look to what King David said to the servants after he had finished his fast and cleaned up and ate. He told them that the child could no longer come to him, but that he would one day go to the child. David trusted that God would take his child to be with him. Granted that is an Old Testament lesson, but I think that it is a poignant one to this question.
Amen and Amen. . .

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[CrossWiseMag]

That's a beautiful way of putting it, Scott. It brings to mind a distinction between Lutheran and Reformed views of God. The Reformed typically view God as sovereign and powerful, above all else. Lutherans view God as merciful above all else -- and in fact, would say that God's sovereignty and power is revealed most clearly in his mercy. (And we're back to that pesky "Theology of the Cross" thing.)

[Jim47]

(And we're back to that pesky "Theology of the Cross" thing.)

Thats a good place to be. :thumbsup:

[theologia crucis]

Thats a good place to be. :thumbsup:

I couldn't agree more!

[ChiRho]

If in the event that a child should die prior to baptism we would trust them to the efficacy of God's grace. For it is out of our hands. We have to recognize that God is merciful and we would pray that in his efficacious grace he would take the child to heaven with him.

I look to what King David said to the servants after he had finished his fast and cleaned up and ate. He told them that the child could no longer come to him, but that he would one day go to the child. David trusted that God would take his child to be with him. Granted that is an Old Testament lesson, but I think that it is a poignant one to this question.


What about children of ungodly parents?

[ByzantineDixie]

What about children of ungodly parents?

Uh oh, kids, he's brought us back to reality!

Here is where I always return to Mueller...some good advice therein.

With regard to infants of Christian believers who die without Baptism, it is best to commend them to God’s infinite mercy, who has power to work faith also without the ordained means of grace (Luke 1:44, cp. with Luke 1:15; cp. also the female infants in the Old Testament, who were not circumcised). With respect to the infants of unbelievers and heathen we dare not affirm that they are saved, Eph. 2:12. Here rather we confront the unsearchable judgments of God, Rom. 11:33, concerning which the Formula of Concord warns us “that we should not reason in our thoughts, draw conclusions, nor inquire curiously into these matters.” (Trigl., p. 1081)
Mueller, J. T. (1999, c1934). Christian dogmatics (electronic ed.). St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House.



Peace

Rose

[KagomeShuko]

Uh oh, kids, he's brought us back to reality!



Pesky ol' reality! I'll just leave it all up to God. . . not assume anything. . .

Stein Auf!
Bridget

[Organist]

God chooses whom he pleases to. He knows us before we are born. I'm sure the babies, or children even, who would have accepted salvation had they lived, would be saved. God is good and merciful. If we know God, we know this to be true.

[revjpw]

I'm sure the babies, or children even, who would have accepted salvation had they lived, would be saved.

If that's the case then they are all damned to hell.

Romans 3:11-12 "There is none who understands, There is none who seeks for God; All have turned aside, together they have become useless; There is none who does good, There is not even one."


No one "accepts salvation." We are not capable of it because of our sinful nature. Thank God we don't have to "accept salvation" because it is given to us as a free gift.


Ephesians 1:4 "Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love 5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will."


We can only go by God's Word on this one. We cannot pretend to know more than God has chosen to reveal.


Exodus 33:19 And He said, "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion."


DaRev:crossrc:

[Dr. Martin Luther]

God is just, merciful, kind, and loving in all things. These things we must always remember.

:preach: